Search

The field of enzymatic biosensors applied to brain electrochemistry has rapidly expanded over the last few years, thanks in part to their excellent selectivity to specific target species. Much current research is therefore focused on enhancing the electrochemical signal, which often involves the detection of stoichiometric amounts of H2O2 formed as part of the enzyme mechanism. This opens the possibility of enhancing a biosensor's performance by facilitating the H2O2 oxidation signal through surface modification. Here, we investigate the impact of the roughness of the platinum surface on the biosensor response, where rougher platinum surfaces show greater activity for H2O2 oxidation, and therefore enhanced biosensor sensitivity. Through careful manipulation of the electrode surface roughness, we are able to show a significant improvement to the LOD when using a rougher electrode surface. Additionally, we have shown that this enhanced surface roughness has no detrimental effects toward the electrode response time. This suggests that surface roughness could be a simple and easy to implement means of enhancing the sensitivity of electrode-based enzymatic biosensors, and is an important factor to consider when studying other aspects of biosensor fabrication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

State-of-the-art scanning probe microscopy (SPM) methods as applied to energy conversion and storage devices, specifically lithium-ion batteries, are reviewed with an emphasis on the electroactive elements. The unique ability of SPM-based methods to provide localized information has proven highly valuable for the in-depth understanding of the fundamental mechanisms, processes, and degradation of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). As such, SPM analysis is poised to play a strong role in the competition for new higher performing LIBs, especially given the unprecedented choice and availability of SPM techniques tailored to provide physical and chemical information at the nanoscale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CO 2 reduction offers an attractive alternative green synthetic route for ethylene, especially where CO 2 could be sourced from industrial exhausts and in combination with green power sources. However, practical applications are currently limited due to the unfortunately low selectivity of cathode materials towards ethylene. This work uses polymers with intrinsic microporosity (PIMs) to improve the performance of copper gas diffusion electrodes for CO 2 reduction to ethylene. We report an improved selectivity and activity towards ethylene with the addition of a thin PIMs layer, which is seen as improved Faradaic efficiency, increased stability and a shift in the reduction to lower overpotential. This improvement is highly dependent on the thickness of the added polymer layer, with too thick a layer having a detrimental impact on the hydrophobicity of the gas diffusion layer. With a compromise in loading, PIMs can be used to enhance the activity and selectivity of catalysts for targeted CO 2 reduction to ethylene. Image 10694 • Gas diffusion electrodes allow CO 2 reduction to ethylene, but selectivity is low. • Polymers with intrinsic microporosity can increase ethylene production. • Using too much polymer has a detrimental impact. • A compromise polymer thickness increases ethylene yield and electrode stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Back Cover picture represents a paper in which scanning probe microscopy methods applied to energy conversion and storage devices (specifically lithium‐ion batteries) are reviewed, with an emphasis on the electroactive elements. More information can be found in the Review by S. B. Schougaard, J. Mauzeroll, and co‐workers on page 6 in Issue 1, 2017 (DOI: 10.1002/celc.201600571). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]